Very Common
Less Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Sidebone, Ossified Collateral Cartilage
Summary
The collateral cartilages (ungual cartilages) are flexible sheets of cartilage that protrude off the back of the wings of the coffin bones within the heel of the foot. In normal horses, these paired cartilages are firm, rubbery-feeling, flexible ridges, visible and palpable in the heel.
Sidebone refers to the hardening (turning to bone or ossification) of the collateral cartilages of the front feet. This condition rarely occurs in the hind feet.
This condition is more common in heavier horses, especially Draft, Draft crosses and Warmblood breeds. It may be related to genetic factors, and certainly is seen more in horses of certain conformation. It is commonly seen in horses of pigeon toe conformation. Pigeon toe probably contributes to unequal loading of the foot which causes ossification.
It is also seen more commonly in feet that undergo excessive concussion for whatever reason, a sign of wear and tear. In many cases, sidebone is found in sound horses that are not lame.
Horses with extensive ossification of the collateral cartilages may lose much of the normal shock absorbing function of the hoof, limiting performance and possibly causing lameness. The biggest problem with this finding is deciding on its significance in a given case of lameness and in predicting whether a horse with this finding in a purchase exam will go lame in the future. There is no known treatment to resolve or reverse this condition.
Diagnosis requires palpation of the foot, and radiographs to confirm the extent of the problem. MRI may be needed to determine specific soft tissue injuries in the hoof that are the REAL cause of lameness.
Treatment of sidebone itself is usually not needed and is not really possible anyway. Changes in shoeing and other treatments may help with pain and the mechanical stresses that contributed to the development of the sidebone in the first place. Other, concurrent injuries in the hoof should be treated or managed. These may only be defined by
Sidebone refers to the hardening (turning to bone or ossification) of the collateral cartilages of the front feet. This condition rarely occurs in the hind feet.
This condition is more common in heavier horses, especially Draft, Draft crosses and Warmblood breeds. It may be related to genetic factors, and certainly is seen more in horses of certain conformation. It is commonly seen in horses of pigeon toe conformation. Pigeon toe probably contributes to unequal loading of the foot which causes ossification.
It is also seen more commonly in feet that undergo excessive concussion for whatever reason, a sign of wear and tear. In many cases, sidebone is found in sound horses that are not lame.
Horses with extensive ossification of the collateral cartilages may lose much of the normal shock absorbing function of the hoof, limiting performance and possibly causing lameness. The biggest problem with this finding is deciding on its significance in a given case of lameness and in predicting whether a horse with this finding in a purchase exam will go lame in the future. There is no known treatment to resolve or reverse this condition.
Diagnosis requires palpation of the foot, and radiographs to confirm the extent of the problem. MRI may be needed to determine specific soft tissue injuries in the hoof that are the REAL cause of lameness.
Treatment of sidebone itself is usually not needed and is not really possible anyway. Changes in shoeing and other treatments may help with pain and the mechanical stresses that contributed to the development of the sidebone in the first place. Other, concurrent injuries in the hoof should be treated or managed. These may only be defined by
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
The prognosis for painful sidebone is fair with early management of the condition and adjustments in workload and shoeing. The prognosis is poor in advanced cases associated with lameness, or with fractured sidebone. In many cases, while sidebone may exist, it is not really the cause of the lameness.my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- If the horse is lame, how can you be sure that sidebone is or is not the condition causing lameness?
Prevention
Choose horses of good conformation. Know that in general; larger, heavier horses are predisposed to developing this condition. Maintain excellent hoof care and balance. Have a purchase exam performed and careful lameness evaluation- make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase a horse with Sidebone.
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health
Related References:
Higgins AJ, Snyder JR eds. The Equine Manual. 2nd Ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders 2006.